Investigating drinking water quality, microbial pollution, and potential health risks in selected schools of Badin city, Pakistan

This study investigated drinking water quality in public, private, and religious schools in Badin city, Pakistan. Physicochemical parameters were within limits except for slightly elevated pH and turbidity. The microbial analysis showed that T.C., and F.C., were found in all samples, and E. coli in...

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Main Authors: Hafeez Ahmed Talpur, Shakeel Ahmed Talpur, Amanullah Mahar, Gianluigi Rosatelli, Muhammad Yousuf Jat Baloch, Aziz Ahmed, Aqib Hassan Ali Khan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: KeAi Communications Co., Ltd. 2024-01-01
Series:HydroResearch
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589757824000143
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author Hafeez Ahmed Talpur
Shakeel Ahmed Talpur
Amanullah Mahar
Gianluigi Rosatelli
Muhammad Yousuf Jat Baloch
Aziz Ahmed
Aqib Hassan Ali Khan
author_facet Hafeez Ahmed Talpur
Shakeel Ahmed Talpur
Amanullah Mahar
Gianluigi Rosatelli
Muhammad Yousuf Jat Baloch
Aziz Ahmed
Aqib Hassan Ali Khan
author_sort Hafeez Ahmed Talpur
collection DOAJ
description This study investigated drinking water quality in public, private, and religious schools in Badin city, Pakistan. Physicochemical parameters were within limits except for slightly elevated pH and turbidity. The microbial analysis showed that T.C., and F.C., were found in all samples, and E. coli in 55% of the smaples, with significant differences in quantities. Microbial contaminants correlated positively with pH, turbidity, and each other, linking them to sewage, runoff, and waste. Bacterial counts exceeded WHO guidelines, and the pollution load index (PLI) demonstrated declining water quality. The water quality index (WQI) rated samples as 30% “very good,” 35% “good,” and 35% “poor ”; none were “excellent” or safe to drink. Subpar water quality poses health risks to children, potentially causing diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid. To mitigate risks, infrastructure improvements, education initiatives, and public awareness campaigns are necessary for securing safe water access to support the well-being of school children and the community.
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institution Kabale University
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publishDate 2024-01-01
publisher KeAi Communications Co., Ltd.
record_format Article
series HydroResearch
spelling doaj-art-c1bb3ce1e6314d9cb6dc4cfdea1d60c12024-11-29T06:24:52ZengKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.HydroResearch2589-75782024-01-017248256Investigating drinking water quality, microbial pollution, and potential health risks in selected schools of Badin city, PakistanHafeez Ahmed Talpur0Shakeel Ahmed Talpur1Amanullah Mahar2Gianluigi Rosatelli3Muhammad Yousuf Jat Baloch4Aziz Ahmed5Aqib Hassan Ali Khan6Centre for Environmental Sciences, University of Sindh, Jamshoro 76080, Sindh, Pakistan; Department of Engineering and Geology, University “G. d'Annunzio” Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, ItalyDiSPUTer, Department of Psychological, Health and Territory Sciences, University “G. d'Annunzio” Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy; Corresponding authors.Centre for Environmental Sciences, University of Sindh, Jamshoro 76080, Sindh, Pakistan; Corresponding authors.DiSPUTer, Department of Psychological, Health and Territory Sciences, University “G. d'Annunzio” Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, ItalyCollege of New Energy and Environment, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, ChinaCentre for Environmental Sciences, University of Sindh, Jamshoro 76080, Sindh, Pakistan; School of Plant, Environment and Soil Sciences, Louisiana State University Agricultural Centre, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USAInternational Research Centre in Critical Raw Materials and Advanced Industrial Technologies, Universidad de Burgos, Burgos 09001, SpainThis study investigated drinking water quality in public, private, and religious schools in Badin city, Pakistan. Physicochemical parameters were within limits except for slightly elevated pH and turbidity. The microbial analysis showed that T.C., and F.C., were found in all samples, and E. coli in 55% of the smaples, with significant differences in quantities. Microbial contaminants correlated positively with pH, turbidity, and each other, linking them to sewage, runoff, and waste. Bacterial counts exceeded WHO guidelines, and the pollution load index (PLI) demonstrated declining water quality. The water quality index (WQI) rated samples as 30% “very good,” 35% “good,” and 35% “poor ”; none were “excellent” or safe to drink. Subpar water quality poses health risks to children, potentially causing diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid. To mitigate risks, infrastructure improvements, education initiatives, and public awareness campaigns are necessary for securing safe water access to support the well-being of school children and the community.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589757824000143Badin cityDrinking water suitabilityMicrobial contaminationPollution load indexWater quality index
spellingShingle Hafeez Ahmed Talpur
Shakeel Ahmed Talpur
Amanullah Mahar
Gianluigi Rosatelli
Muhammad Yousuf Jat Baloch
Aziz Ahmed
Aqib Hassan Ali Khan
Investigating drinking water quality, microbial pollution, and potential health risks in selected schools of Badin city, Pakistan
HydroResearch
Badin city
Drinking water suitability
Microbial contamination
Pollution load index
Water quality index
title Investigating drinking water quality, microbial pollution, and potential health risks in selected schools of Badin city, Pakistan
title_full Investigating drinking water quality, microbial pollution, and potential health risks in selected schools of Badin city, Pakistan
title_fullStr Investigating drinking water quality, microbial pollution, and potential health risks in selected schools of Badin city, Pakistan
title_full_unstemmed Investigating drinking water quality, microbial pollution, and potential health risks in selected schools of Badin city, Pakistan
title_short Investigating drinking water quality, microbial pollution, and potential health risks in selected schools of Badin city, Pakistan
title_sort investigating drinking water quality microbial pollution and potential health risks in selected schools of badin city pakistan
topic Badin city
Drinking water suitability
Microbial contamination
Pollution load index
Water quality index
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589757824000143
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